Effect of strain rate on the compression behavior of a woven glass fiber/SC-15 composite

Strain rate dependent compression behavior of a plain-weave S-2 glass fabric SC-15 epoxy (rubber toughened resin) composite plate, currently studied as the backing plate for composite armor applications, was determined in the through-thickness direction (normal to the fiber plane) in the strain rate regime of 1 10 4 to 1:1 10 s . In the studied strain rate regime, the modulus and failure strength of the composite were found to be rate sensitive and increased with increasing strain rate. Microscopic observations showed that the composite failed by ductile failure, involving matrix cracks and, later, cracking through and between the fiber layers. Crack deflections at rubber particle/matrix interface and particle pull-out were observed in the failed samples, contributing to the toughness of the composite. # 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.